Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale moulded seekers without letting them have attachment to His gross body and helped them transcend to the subtle

Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Mukul Gadgil

Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Gadgil explains in a bhav-enriched manner how She was moulded by Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale. While explaining different aspects of sadhana (Spiritual practice) to seekers, Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale imparted knowledge about the subtle world. He gradually helped seekers on their spiritual journey to get introduced to God in the nirgun (Non-materialised) form through various sevas related to subtle analysis. He taught seekers how to examine and study the developments in the subtle dimension and moulded seekers so as to perceive the subtle.

1. Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale (Addressed as ‘Gurudev’ in the Article) taught seekers to examine and study the impact of spiritual remedies on those who suffered from spiritual distress : Gurudev did not just teach the seekers who could perceive the subtle dimension, how to examine and study the developments in the subtle world, but also showed us how to perform spiritual remedies for seekers who suffer from spiritual distress. Gurudev used to perform spiritual remedies such as chanting for hours for such seekers and then ask us to examine the impact of the remedies performed. Later, seekers who could perceive the subtle dimension started to study the effect on these seekers.

2. Gurudev would always have a learning attitude despite being in the state of Sat-Chit-Anand (Absolute Truth – Consciousness – Bliss) : At that time, Gurudev would say, “I also learn a lot from the subtle analysis you do”. Even today, He says the same. Gurudev says, “I constantly learn from every seeker. Hence, I do not get bored. Spirituality is a science of infinity. No one is perfect. However, God is the only one who is perfect in every aspect. When one remains in a learning mode, he experiences Anand (Bliss). Anand lies in knowledge. Once we remain in the state of Anand for a relatively longer period, we can soon attain the state of Sat-Chit-Anand.

3. Gurudev developed seekers into those who could obtain subtle knowledge from God by awakening their curiosity about the subject : In this way, Gurudev imprinted the importance of receiving subtle knowledge from God for attaining Moksha (the Final Liberation) in our minds. He aroused our curiosity about this unique subject by explaining the importance of subtle knowledge. Consequently, this curiosity helped seekers acquire subtle knowledge from God.

4. Gurudev taught seekers to study various hand mudras performed with the tip of the thumb and the fingertips : Gurudev used to perform spiritual remedies with the help of various hand mudras. He would say, “This world is made of the five Cosmic Principles. Every mudra has a specific significe. Find out which of these Cosmic Principles is this mudra related to. Once you establish this, try to align the subtle vibrations of that mudra with the spiritual energy necessary for performing a task and with the vibrations of energy, bhav (Spiritual emotion), Chaitanya (Divine consciousness), Anand, and Shanti (Peace) concealed in the body”.

4A. Teaching seekers to present their subtle analysis in a spiritual language : Gurudev even taught us the subtle aspects of this seva, such as how to present the analysis in a clear and precise manner. For example, which hand mudra emits the subtle vibrations of Tejtattva (Absolute Fire Principle) in the form of energy waves. Later, we learnt to present the analysis precisely and in a spiritual language. Gurudev taught us the language to be used for subtle analysis.

5. Teaching seekers to seek spiritual answers by invoking the Shakti (Divine energy) present within themselves : Once, Gurudev said, “All of us carry a hidden Shakti, which is our Spiritual Master. You should seek answers by invoking this Shakti”.

Later, we started seeking answers after praying to Him; and much to our surprise, Gurudev started subtly guiding us with our difficult queries as our inner voice. After we had this peculiar spiritual experience, we never looked back.

When we would tell Gurudev about these unique experiences, He would smile in His natural way that captivates all seekers and say, “God does a lot for the seekers”. We would then confess to Him that, “We always see Your image when we close our eyes. We always invoke You. We always pray to You when we begin the subtle analysis. This way, we always get the required answers almost immediately”.

Gurudev would then have a big smile on His face. In this manner, He taught us how critical is the Guru’s (Spiritual Master’s) presence in a seeker’s life.

6. Gurudev impresses upon seekers that a Guru is not merely a gross body but a Divine Principle and connects seekers with that Divine Principle

6A. Gurudev does not let seekers get attached to His gross body : Gurudev gradually led us on the path of the subtle light that emanates from the Guru Principle, that detached us from His gross body. He impressed upon our minds the teaching that – ‘The Guru is not a physical body but rather a subtle Principle’.

Otherwise, we would have been attached to His gross form (physical body). Due to His constant guidance on this topic, no seeker gets attached to His gross form.

6B. Gurudev moulded thousands of virtuous and committed seekers who manage various sevas related to the propagation of Dharma through His teachings : Look at some of the Gurus in this Era of Kaliyuga. You would notice that they strive for publicity and crave fame and glory. In this way, their disciples get attached to their physical forms. Hence, once such a Guru renounces His body, the sect promoted by Him gradually fades away. His disciples do not get the required spiritual guidance to remain calm and to continue with their spiritual practice.

On the contrary, thousands of disciples of Gurudev are diligently managing their part in the overall seva to propagate Dharma and introduce Spirituality to the spiritually curious all over the world. These seekers are Gurudev’s Spiritual Successors in a way for their respective sevas. Such a Divine soul, who moulded thousands of virtuous, committed, and Chaitanya-enriched (full of Divine consciousness) seekers, can only be God’s Incarnation.

O’ Gurudev (Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale) ! We have now realised the reason why Maharshi refers to you as Shri Vishnu’s Incarnate form.

We sincerely pray to God – “May all of us remain faithful and devoted to Your lotus feet”.

– Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Mukul Gadgil, one of the two Spiritual Heirs of Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale (6.2.2022)

Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale – The Radiant, Meditative and Omniscient Sun

I could not stop the tears of joy when I saw Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale. I felt as if He was the Divine manifestation of immense purity. I stood in front of One who had supreme intellect, in-depth study, radiance arising out of incessant chanting, the spiritual Principle getting emitted as a result of meditation and youthful energy surrounding Him – Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale was a luminous body like the Omniscient Sun that still seemed as if in deep meditation.

– Mrs Sonia Parchure (Renowned Kathak Dancer, Dadar, Mumbai)

Meaning of some terms related to the word ‘subtle’

1. Subtle world : That which cannot be comprehended by the five sense organs, but whose existence is comprehended by the one who performs spiritual practice, is known as the ‘subtle world’. Various Scriptures contain reference to the subtle world and knowledge.

2. Seeing, hearing in the subtle, etc. (Receiving knowledge through the five subtle sense organs) : The subtle vision of some seekers is awakened – they can perceive what the physical eyes cannot see, some seekers can hear sounds or words in the subtle.

3. Subtle analysis : ‘Subtle analysis’ is that in which the chitta (Subconscious mind) understands about an event or a process.